The vice foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States met in Seoul to discuss alliance issues and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 10, Park Yunju, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, held the 10th South Korea-U.S. Vice Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Allison Hooker, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, who is currently visiting South Korea. The strategic dialogue between the two vice foreign ministers was held for the first time in four years and three months since the 9th meeting in July 2021.
According to the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, the two vice ministers discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation in various fields, including the modernization of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, North Korea, key mineral supply chains, energy, and advanced technologies. They also exchanged views on the importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
The two vice ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and pledged to maintain a coordinated response to North Korea's destabilizing actions.
According to the embassy, Under Secretary Hooker reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral alliance, stating, "The South Korea-U.S. alliance has been the linchpin supporting peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region for over 70 years."
The United States also reiterated its commitment to further strengthen the alliance through a robust combined defense posture and continued assurance of extended deterrence for South Korea.
It is also possible that the two sides discussed matters related to the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit, which is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju later this month.
Meanwhile, Under Secretary Hooker oversees regional and bilateral affairs at the State Department and is deeply involved in South Korea-U.S. and North Korea-U.S. relations.
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